Capital Crimes (Ex. 21:12-17)

6/22/2008 8:00 AM

My Worship Time           Focus:  Capital Crimes

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Exodus 21:12-17

            Message of the verses:  “12 ¶  "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death.  13  "But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint you a place to which he may flee.  14  "If, however, a man acts presumptuously toward his neighbor, so as to kill him craftily, you are to take him even from My altar, that he may die.  15  "He who strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.  16  "He who kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or he is found in his possession, shall surely be put to death.  17  "He who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” 

            The crimes that are listed in these verses are all punishable by death and some of these crimes are just relate to Jewish laws, although in most countries premeditated murder is punishable by death even today.  I find it interesting that Dr. Wiersbe points out that there was no police force in the land of Israel.  When a person commits a crime against another person the family’s victim was expected to take care of justice.

            Israel had laws given by God to protect them and they are a very family orientated people and so as the Jewish mothers and fathers were raising their children they were suppose to instill in them these laws that God had given them and because of this they were expected to keep them as they grew up, and this could be why the crimes were to be so severely punished. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It can be seen that these above laws given by God come back to the Ten Commandments and therefore because I am a believer I am to keep those commandments out of my love for the Lord.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1. Give myself to the Lord for service and worship.
2. Seek the Lord to guide my path today.
3. Be yoked with the Lord Jesus Christ whose burden is light.
4. Trust the Lord to search my heart for sin.
5. Trust that the Lord will make a way of escape from overwhelming tests and temptations.

Memory verses for the week:                      Colossians 4:12-13

12.    Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

13.    For I  testify for him that that he has a deep concern for you and for those in Laodicea and Hierapolis. 

6/22/2008 8:22 AM